Update to 65 Mustang fastback
 

I guess it's time to start another project.

The car is a 65 Mustang fastback, that belongs to a good friend in Oregon. He's been looking at 1st gen Camaros/Firebirds to do restomod, somewhat in line with the cars on here. After many failed attempt (too much money for rust buckets/bondo), his wife mentioned that the Mustang, which he's owned for a long time, is a perfect candidate, as it's 99% rust free.

The plan is to completely replaced the front suspension with DSE alumaframe/minitubs/subframe connectors. Rear suspension will be Ridetech 4-link with 8.8 rearend from a late model Mustang. Motor will be a 5.3/4l60e drop out. We discussed going with Coyote 5.0 but the cost is just too prohibitive.

The car. It's extremely clean, with mostly all original interior.

http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps44d53517.jpg


We took advantage of thanksgiving sale at Matt's Classic Bowtie, and order full DSE/Ridetech suspension/wiring kit/VHX guages.

Big pallet from DSE.
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps2d265a66.jpg

Current motor in the car. 347 stroker full roller cam set up with rebuilt c4 transmission. The combo has less than 500 miles.
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...psc67220fc.jpg

New (old) motor for the car.
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...psfd405f04.jpg

In the next few months, I will have the following stuff from the car listed for sale, as I pull them off.

-Fuel tank
-Motor/tranny
-Front suspension
-Front disc set up (Granada discs)
-Original 8" rearend
-Leaf springs

All the work will be done in my 3-car garage. Plan is to have it done for Cruisin the Coast this Oct in MS.

looks like a great foundation to start with.

I have a soft spot for them as my brother had one.

The car has hardly any rust at all. The only rust I've found so far is a couple of pin holes in the trunk.

I have to admit. The earlier fastback does look really good. Even my wife commented that she likes the profile, despite the fact that she hates car.

Very cool. I'm anxious to see this one come together with the DSE alumaframe and the LS motor. Thanks for posting! :-)

I'm anxious as well. As far as I know, after searching several forums, this install is the first DSE alumaframe install with an LS. Guess we'll be the guinea pig on this one.

Where at in Houston are you? I live in Houston and I am on the hunt for a 60's mustang coupe/fastback and plan on doing some similar mods. I would love to come by and see your car!

:y0!:

http://frameupwheelworks.smugmug.com...rt%20618-M.jpg

Nice!

Nice!
 

That motor looks sweet in there! Where did you get that load leveler for the LS Motor?

Beautiful car and color. So nice to have such a rust free car too!
Should be a great one after the build. Love the Mustang cars.

http://www.macscustomtiedowns.com/pr...ine-lift-plate

Damnit Donny you beat me to it!!


Cool project Tu!! Next time I blow up a motor in the track car that SOB is going to go LS...

CorteX Racing runs one in there Mustang and that car is just bad to the bone!

Don, I stand corrected. do you have any additional pictures or build thread somewhere?

Thanks for the comments guys.

Started tearing down the front end sheet metal. Will have more pictures after the weekend.

I'm in NE Houston, near Deussen park.

Awesome! I'll be very interested in following along. My 289 is getting tired and I've got a weeee bit of LS envy... :yes:

Cross-breed
 

Definitely following this one!

Some pictures.

http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...psa7bf273f.jpg

http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...psd840d4cc.jpg

Torn down the front end sheet metal in preparation for engine removal.

http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps3af0d1a3.jpg

http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps3e172ca9.jpg

The car was worked on (or hacked on) by the PO, prior to purchase by my friend. The front end hardware consist of metric and SAE bots, sheet metal screws. The PS headlight bucket was held on to the fender with sheet metal screws.

Some progress.

Removed the engine/tranny. I decided to drop the tranny from the bottom, and pulled the engine from above. Normally I'd pull the engine/tranny as a whole, but with the core support in the way, I figured pulling them as separate units would be easier. Also, I couldn't get my wrench around a few header bolts (not sure how my friend installed it), but a few minutes with the sawzall solved the problem.

http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps84077d77.jpg

Pushed the car outside for a quick wash of the engine bay/underside.

http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...pscc22a085.jpg

A couple of hours later, the front suspension is gone.

http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps5e97d4f5.jpg

Hopefully I'll have the shock towers cut out in a week, and have the DSE stuff mocked up.

More progress
 

A few hours with a sawzall, cutting disc and plasma cutter, I have this. There's no going back now.

http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...psgjppftfs.jpg

http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps6a8mzyah.jpg

http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...psypdmgbtk.jpg

http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps81wlmt3k.jpg

http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps95wqznfb.jpg

Unbox the Aluma-frame. Chassis number 108.

http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...psqoygdiov.jpg

Placed the DSE shock tower delete panels in place to see how everything looks.

http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...psgqlnzfcc.jpg

I need to get hole saws to drill the frames for the crush tubes. :G-Dub: More reason to buy tools I guess.

Update
 

As I mentioned before, the car is 99% rust free, but here's one spot that has some rust-the battery apron. I decided to replace that before proceeding any further with the DSE install, since the DSE adapter plate will be in the way of replacing the apron.

http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...psmo57c1ux.jpg

Cut out the offending part.
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...pslfxpbhvg.jpg

Replacement apron from CJ Pony welded in place.
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...psufdbydad.jpg

Mock the Aluma-frame in place and centered it between the rails. It appears that the frame rails were not centered with the rockers. One side is off by 1/8". We chalked it up as factory tolerance.

Holes for the crush tubes drilled and sprayed with weld thru primer.
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...psi9xv4blf.jpg

http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps0qragqim.jpg

http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...psurji2it4.jpg

Crush tubes installed.
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...pswnfbnymp.jpg

Adapter plates mocked up.
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...psdppdwnzy.jpg

I was following DSE installation video, and it showed the stock sway bar brackets being removed and DSE brackets welded in. So I did, and in restrospect, I think it was not necessary since the DSE brackets are identical to the stock ones. I would have saved about 2 hrs of work had I leave the stock ones on.

Hit the plates with weld thru primer.
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...pswpdoiggl.jpg

Crush tubes/adapter plates/sway bar brackets welded in. The welds on the crush tubes are not the prettiest, as I was laying on my back welding. I hate welding up side down.

http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...pskhbqwsea.jpg

http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...psyc6w3hqi.jpg

http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...psplnyudyq.jpg

Welded in the jounce bumper brackets
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...psbql0zm19.jpg

http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...psomhhuxnm.jpg

Aluma-frame bolted in place.
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...psvgq38yd8.jpg

That's it for the DSE install for now. Next up I will work on installing the front torque boxes. Then I will go back to installing the remaining DSE suspension pieces.

I left the stock sway bar brackets but had to slot the holes some. Apparently there were several installs where the brackets didn't even come close so DSE decided to fab up new brackets and include them.

Looking good!

I had to slot the holes on the DSE brackets also. DSE "paper" instruction does not mention removing the brackets, but the video does. Oh well, it's done.

Serious stuff
 

That is one beefy casting!

Some updates
 

The car did not come with front torque boxes, so we decided to install them to add additional rigidity to the chassis.

I striped down the interior to prepare for torque box and sub frame connectors installation.

Floor boards are quite clean, with some surface rust here and there.
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...pszxptkgk2.jpg

Passenger side. Someone put on a ton of undercoating from the firewall forward, and those things stuck on pretty good.
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...pstw186fuh.jpg

An hour later with a scraper/wire wheel, we have bare metal.
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...psch5cp4es.jpg
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...psoy1lhpbc.jpg

Painted on some weld thru primer.
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...psav7osrit.jpg

Pass side welded on. The car was off about 1/8" on the pass side, so I had to slice and dice the torque box to make it fit.
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...pssue1pqya.jpg

Repeat the same process on the driver side.
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...pskwjs5aqu.jpg
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...psdf0sw1xp.jpg

With the torque boxes installed, I took a break from fabricating and decided to bolt on the remaining DSE front suspensions.

Steering rack out of the box.
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...psixhltqoa.jpg

Bolted in the frame.
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps8bgfxmkm.jpg

Lower control arms bolted.
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...psaemtlgql.jpg

Roll bar out of the box and slid into place.
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps7ynect4k.jpg
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...psbuxaq036.jpg

Coil overs out of the box and assembled.
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...psgg11uurq.jpg
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps0dso3jmo.jpg

Driver side assembled with the spindle
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...psjmtpalec.jpg

Pass side.
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...psbbdcyxsr.jpg

Shot of the engine compartment with the DSE front suspension.
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps8bgfxmkm.jpg

As usual, the DSE parts are very high quality and fit like a glove. Everything slid into its place. The only gripe I've had so far is their instructions suck. I had to redo several steps, because the instructions were lacking; or spending additional time on extra unesssary steps. But, it was a pleasure to install.

Well it's been 6 months since the last post. I got caught up in life and having moved to a much smaller space, the cars sat idle while I dealt with life and the move. Finally got the garage set up, and I got going on the Mustang again.

Since I did not have the new wheels at the time of the move, and the old 14" wheels did not fit over the DSE front suspension, I had to come up with some wooden wheels to move the car to the new place.

http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...psb5kwa6wa.jpg

I got the DSE mini tubs/torque boxes/sub frame connectors installed, but did not take any pictures of the tub installations.

Torque box installed (driver side).

http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...psfkoutcbz.jpg

http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...psx2qyz7dt.jpg

DSE subframe connectors

http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps6gupp9kw.jpg

http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps6qkfkbko.jpg

http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...psr7q2r7ce.jpg

Wilwood 6-pistons for the front suspension

http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...psrrcxpkrn.jpg

That's some good progress!!

Ridetech installation. Had to narrow the 4-link bracket to fit between the replacement DSE frame rails

http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...psfhuhjier.jpg
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...pswctzqz4v.jpg

Also, wheels/tires showed up. 18x9 all the way around, with 255/40/18 front and 275/35/18 rear. Will have to mock up the rear wheels/tires and have the Ford 8.8 rear end narrowed to match.

http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...psywcbunl5.jpg

The trunk area around the fuel tank has some rust, so in the process of cutting out the rust and replace with fresh metal.

http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...psadedo2jx.jpg
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...psvyf8d2r8.jpg
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps2qrr3cri.jpg

Spent most of the day today cut out the rusted trunk panel and welded the replacement pieces.

http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...pswodycw1t.jpg

Welded/painted.
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...psynwrmvoh.jpg
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...pses2dvwfh.jpg

Put up the rear wheels/tires to measure the rearend width.
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...pscnm2vizb.jpg

Tomorrow I'll start cleaning up the rearend to get it ready for the rearend shop.

Looking good!! That replacement sheet metal is garbage isn't it. The front trunk piece is even shaped wrong. I ended up bending it the other way so I could get to the upper coil over bolts.

Sits nice too!

Nice looking work!:thumbsup:

Yeah, the replacement panels were junk, but close enough to make it work. I did not check the coil over bolts, will have to verify it today.

Thanks.

Well, a little more update on the Mustang.

Got the old 8.8 rearend out and removed all the unnecessary brackets.

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/706/2...c471d0d5_b.jpgIMG_0717 by Tu Ho, on Flickr

Got the Ridetech stuff installed after narrowed/rebuilt the rearend.

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/640/2...704b6b7f_c.jpgIMG_0783 by Tu Ho, on Flickr

Got a little sidetracked on the car when my neighbor across the street came home with this.

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/660/2...63071337_c.jpgIMG_0822

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5777/...74caeb45_c.jpgIMG_0821

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/743/2...b7a5eb6e_c.jpgIMG_0823


https://farm1.staticflickr.com/743/2...b7a5eb6e_c.jpgIMG_0823

Race Car Replica GT40 kit, configured for right hand drive.

Started on Dynamat/insulating the car.

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5768/...58c3653e_c.jpgIMG_0875
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5699/...31f858d3_c.jpgIMG_0878

Welded studs on the firewall for the VA case.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/566/2...ca4a5c66_c.jpgIMG_0879

Running the lines for the AC
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5830/...4e3a0066_c.jpgIMG_0900
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/581/2...1532de8f_c.jpgIMG_0832

Drilled holes for the VA bulk head.

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/685/2...0a5f1735_c.jpgIMG_0833